Working life: Eithne Barden, medical scientist

8am: I work in a very busy team-based laboratory environment in the Mercy Hospital where each day brings a different challenge. 

Last night a problem with our main analyser meant the instrument could not be used so our back-up instrument had to be calibrated and controlled and fully functioning for the remainder of the night and today until I got that fixed.

An Aer Lingus flight from Germany was cancelled which meant compounds needed to perform certain tests were delayed. Thankfully, another city laboratory came to our aid.